Materialise Magics is professional data and build preparation software for additive manufacturing. It repairs and edits 3D files, generates supports, places parts on the build platform and prepares jobs for industrial 3D printers. Dental labs know it mainly through its Dental Module, which automates print preparation. A “Materialise Magics download” is a trial that you request from the vendor, not a free tool.
Magics is commercial software for businesses and professionals. This page explains what it does for dental labs, how the trial works, and where it fits next to the CAD and slicer tools on this site.
Materialise Magics at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest version | Magics 30 (2026 release); Magics 31 is scheduled for spring 2027 |
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free): commercial software with a free trial that businesses and professionals can request |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Developer | Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium |
| Official website | materialise.com |
| Best for | Dental labs and print centres running industrial additive-manufacturing workflows |
What it does
- Imports 3D data, checks it and repairs mesh errors before printing.
- Places parts on the build platform and nests them to use the space.
- Generates support structures, including for implicit geometries in Magics 30 without converting them to meshes first.
- Adds labels to parts; Magics 30 adds Label Planning and a Label Manager for series production.
- Provides a lattice module; the 2026 release adds Voronoi beam lattices.
- Includes a Material Editor, and part compensation that supports heat-treated builds.
- Offers a Dental Module that automates labelling, nesting and support generation after you upload dental CAD designs.
- Lets you refine automatic results by hand, and handle applications the Dental Module does not cover with the standard Magics tools.
How dental teams use it
Automate print preparation for restorations
Materialise describes the Dental Module as a one-click workflow: you upload designs from your dental CAD, and the software does labelling, nesting and supports. Labs that print many copings, models or frameworks per build use it to cut manual preparation.
Prepare metal and resin builds
- Export finished designs from your CAD, for example 3Shape Dental System or exocad.
- Load the files in Magics and let the Dental Module apply your processing profile.
- Review the supports and nesting, and edit by hand where needed.
- Export the build file for your printer.
Train staff and students
Materialise has an educational plan with a separate request page, which is useful for schools and training labs.
Install and first run
- Open the Magics trial page on materialise.com and choose the Magics trial.
- Fill in the request form with your personal details and the technology and CAD packages you use.
- Materialise confirms by email and sends the download link and a voucher to activate the trial licence; allow one to two working days.
- Install on a Windows PC and activate with the voucher. Check Materialise’s help centre for current system requirements.
Magics 30 uses a new licensing system, so older activation habits may not apply.
Plan the evaluation with a real build. Bring a few of your own dental CAD exports, run them through the Dental Module and compare the preparation time and support quality with your current slicer before deciding.
Limitations
- It is a professional industrial tool and not a casual download. Trials are offered to businesses and professionals.
- It prepares printing data; it does not design restorations. You still need dental CAD.
- Upgrading from older versions requires an active maintenance contract with Materialise, according to the Magics 2026 release page.
- It targets industrial printers. Small resin printers usually come with their own slicers.
Materialise Magics vs alternatives
For desktop resin printers, dental labs more often use brand slicers such as CHITUBOX, Formlabs PreForm or Asiga Composer, which are free or bundled with printers and have dental workflows. Google also suggests free alternatives to Magics; for filament work, UltiMaker Cura is free and open source. Magics is the choice for labs that run many parts on industrial machines and need automation, labelling and lattices.
FAQ
Is Materialise Magics free?
No. It is commercial software. Materialise offers free trials to businesses and professionals, and has a separate educational plan.
How do I get a Materialise Magics trial?
Fill in the request form on the Magics trial page. Materialise emails a download link and a voucher to activate the trial licence, usually within one to two working days.
What is the latest Materialise Magics version?
Magics 30, the 2026 release. Materialise says Magics 31 is planned for spring 2027.
What does the Magics Dental Module do?
It automates build preparation for dental labs: labelling, nesting and support generation after you upload dental CAD designs. You can adjust the result manually.
Is there a free alternative to Magics?
For simple preparation, free slicers such as PrusaSlicer or Cura cover filament printing, and resin printer makers supply their own tools. None of them reproduces Magics’ industrial feature set.
Does Magics need a licence key?
Yes. A trial uses a voucher to activate the licence. Magics 30 introduced a new licensing system.
Last checked against official sources: 1 October 2026 (developer website: materialise.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.
